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M K E N N E D Y DIE FOR COUPLING LINKS. N 0 4 z 8 2 7 9 P a t e n t e a M a y 2 o 1 s 9 o.

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(NoModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M.KENNEDY. DIE FOR COUPLING LINKS.

No. 428,279. Patented Ma an, 1890.

, zen of the United States, residing at Chicago,-

UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFIC MARTIN KENNEDY, OF CHICAGO ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES ROLLING STOCK COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DIE FOR COUPLING-LINKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,279, dated. May 20, 1890.

Application filed January 18, 1890. Serial No. 337,296- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

'Be it known that I, MARTIN KENNEDY, a citiin the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dies for Coupling-Links, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an inside elevation of one part of a two-part die embodying myimprovement, which part may be called thefemale die Fig. 2, a similar view of the other part of the die, which may be called the male die; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the same put together and the die-punch in position; Fig. 4, an elevation of the male die and die-punch in position for operation; Fig. 5, a plan of the link bent and with its ends overlapped ready for placing in the dies; Fig. 6, an edge view of the same; Fig. 7, a plan of the finished link as forged in the dies, and Fig. 8 an edge view of the same.

My invention relates to dies for the forging of coupling-links for cars, the object beingto provide dies which will produce an improved link, satisfactory in finish, and as strong, if I not stronger, at the welded end as at any other portion of the link.

The invention consists in twopart dies adapted to inclose the link, andprovided one part with a recess in its face and the other with a corresponding projection, whereby a firm support is provided for the forging and welding of the overlapped ends of the link by the operation of the two dies and a diepunch, adapted to operate in connection therewith.

I will proceed to describe one mode of carrying out my invention in practical form, and will then point out definitely in claims the special improvements which I believe to be new and wish to protect by Letters Patent.

In the drawings, A represents the female portion of the die, and B the male, and they are constructed in the usual way of similar inclosing-dies in most parts. They are made so that each will represent one-half of the complete die nearly their entire length, the only exception being at the extreme end, as

will be described presently. The female memher A is provided with circular grooves or channels a on each side adapted to receive one-half the link, and a central core a rises between them, which constitutes one-half of the complete core of the entire die. This core-section a extends somewhat beyond the outer edges a of the grooves, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, but terminates before it reaches the proper length of the core for the links which are to be made; and beyond it is a recess of, the extremity of which is circular, while the sides are straight and about in line with the sides of the core-section. The male member B is similarly constructed, being provided with like grooves 12 and a coresection b and outer edges b but instead of a depression at the end of this core-section it is provided with a stud or projection 12 which is adaptedto lit into the recess a in the corresponding member A. Preferably this projection is slightly rounded or beveled at itsextremity, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, which is simply to facilitate its entry into the aforesaid recess when the two parts of the die are brought together, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. It will be seen that when the two parts of the die are brought together in this way, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, there will be provided at the end a stiff solid projection around which the end of the link is to be forged and welded, and that there is no dividing-line at this point in the plane of the link. The two parts of the die are cut away from the terminals of the outer edges of the grooves back past the recess and projection, and from t; entirely across to the outer ends of the bit) so that the plane of these two opposite faces will correspond to the bottom of the grooves in each. It will be seen then that when brought together there will be a clean open space between the ends of the two members and inward past the stud or projection 12 up to the ends of the side edges 'of the grooves, which edges of course meet when the two parts are brought together. This space is of course in width about the thickness of the links. A die-punch C is constructed of such dimensions as to enter and fit this open space between the two extremities of the two parts of the die. The extremity of this punch is recessed, the concavity a being of a shape to correspond with that required for the end of the coupling-link. This circular recess in the end of the punch will therefore be concave in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and preferably a shallow groove 0 is made at the bottom of the recess about midway of the cross -section and running nearly around the recess, though, preferably, it is run out some little distance back from the extreme points of the punch. This diepunch is fastened at its other end to a suitable plunger D, by means of which itis given a reciprocating motion by any suitable mechanism.

These dies are intended to form and weld the open ends of partly-made links. The

links are partly formed by bending the link bar or iron into thegeneral-shape of the links and overlapping the ends, as will be presently described; and this open link is then placed in the die so that the end where the lap is will slip over the projection on the male member, the-slight taper or bevel given to this part being also for the purpose of facilitating this adjustment of the link. The two parts of the inclosing-die are then brought together by the forging-machine and the diepunch is driven in between the open and plane-faced ends of the two parts of the die, as shownin Figs. 3 and et of the drawings. The movement of this punch is inward to the ends of the meeting side edges ct b against which it abuts on each side. It will be seen that this movement of the punch will force its forks inward over and along upon the sides of the lapped-ends of the link, thusforging and welding these ends together and upsetting the metal as the punch moves inward,

thus causing it to completely fill the space -ward to its fullest extent, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the space between the punch and the core of the die will be somewhat larger than the regular size of the link, which is represented by the side grooves in the inclosing-die. This difference is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The links are prepared for the operation of these dies by first bending so as to form a link E, as shown in Figs.5 and 6 of the drawings, with-the ends (5 considerably overlapped, as shown in these two figures. The link thus bent is then placed in the male member of the inelosing die, the lapped ends being slipped over the rounded projection, as already described, and .the two parts of this die are pressed together by the operation of any suitable machine. It will. be seen that the overlapping ends provide an increased amount of metal, which is intended to be sufficient to make this welded end of the link larger than the other, as already mentioned. lVhen the inclosingdies are forced together, as described, and the die-punch is then driven inward, as already mentioned, it will forge the overlapped ends of the link into proper shape and will at the same time weld them thoroughly together, and in its movement will upset the metal, driving it inward, and so distributing it evenly all along the bend of the link practically to the point where the end of the punch meets the outer edges of the side grooves. This will make a completed link F, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which it will be seen that the welded end f is perfectly formed, but at the same time is somewhat larger than the rest of the link, and is also provided with a small rib f. There is no fin whatever on the inside of this forged end of the link, the solid projection b entirely preventing this defect. The little rib onthe exterior of the link is for the purpose of giving some additional strength, but is not an essential feature and of no great importance. It also serves to take up any slight surplus of metal. I am thus enabled to produce a'link thoroughly welded at the lapping ends and having an increased amount of metal, so that it is comparatively stronger than other parts of the link.

In coupling links as heretofore made the breakage, whenever'it occurs, is almost invariably at the welded end; but in links made with the forging devices herein described it has been found by actual and repeated tests that the link will part at other points or at the other end, rather than at the welded end. By the upsetting operation of the punch the scar of the weld-lap is completely hidden, so that the link is not only improved instrength and durability, but also in appearance. It is impossible to make a link of this shape in any old way. If the link is forged in two-part dies, which are made so as to complete the die when joined together, or if it is made under the hammer, it is impossible to distribute the metal, as herein shown, so as to give increased strength entirely around the bend. The increasewill practically stop at the end of the lap. It is the upsetting operation which enables-me to form the link shaped as herein shown and described.

I have not attempted to show and describe a machine for operating the dies and punch, as it does not constitute any part of mypresent invention.

Any forging-machine adapted to give the required movement to the parts, as herein set forth, will answer the purpose. The machine shown and described in my prior patent,"No. 37 9,474, dated March 13, 1888, is suitable for this purpose With slight adaptation; but any other machine adapted to operate the dies and punch, as described, may be employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

IIO

1. In dies for forging coupling-links, atwopart i-nclosing-die consisting of the two members A and B, provided with the side grooves a b, the outer edges of which terminate some distance from the turning end of the die and having their faces planed down from said points of termination even with the bottom of said grooves, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. A two-part inclosing-die for forging coupling-links, composed of the female member A, having side grooves a, a portion of the central core a, a recess (L incombination with the male member B, provided with similar grooves and core, and a stud or projection b at the end of the core, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The two-part inclosing-die for forging the central core of the die, substantially as 30' and for the purposes specified.

MARTIN KENNEDY.

Witnesses:

CARRIE FEIGEL, J. M. THURBER. 

